India at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday specially called for "restraint on all sides" and emphasised that the immediate priority was "de-escalation of tensions", considering the legitimate security interests of all countries and securing long-term peace.
New Delhi: Good diplomacy and foreign policy are also about the right mix of balance in framing the standpoint during conflicting situations.
"We welcome the independent position India has taken in the UN Security Council twice already and which was expressed openly by the Indian external affairs minister and other officials," Russia said on the Modi government's clarity on the Ukraine crisis.
Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin said India has been playing a vital role as a responsible global power and is taking an "independent and balanced" approach to world affairs.
Babushkin said, referring to statements made by the Indian side at two Security Council meetings on the Ukraine crisis.
He also said the crisis would not impact India-Russia ties, including in areas of defence, and that there will be a "huge" Russian participation in the DefExpo in Gujarat next month.
"The Indian activities at the UN Security Council are fully reflecting the merit of our special and privileged strategic partnership," he said.
While there is an escalated tension between Moscow and the West, especially the United States, after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway Ukrainian regions as independent states, India at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday specially called for "restraint on all sides".
New Delhi emphasised that the immediate priority was "de-escalation of tensions", considering the legitimate security interests of all countries and securing long-term peace.
When asked whether the Western sanctions will adversely impact India-Russia defence cooperation, including supply of S-400 missile systems, Babushkin said, "We keep in mind the possibility of the negative influence of sanctions regarding our cooperation in particular affairs, including defence. But at the same time, when it comes to our case with India, we have very strong and trusted cooperation."
"We continue our work with our Indian partners in defence. We have big plans and we hope that our partnership will continue," Babushkin further said.
He said the Western sanctions against Russia would negatively affect the Russian economy and banking system.
The Russian diplomat also said India and Russia don't "threaten" each other with unilateral sanctions and don't interfere in each other's domestic affairs.
He said NATO has been a source of 'instability' and that the Western countries are trying to exert more pressure on Russia.
He alleged Ukraine has been under "external control" since 2014, and the US has been sending thousands of tonnes of military equipment to that country during the period.
Moscow will be open to sharing sophisticated technologies with India, and bilateral defence cooperation is a "strong factor of international peace and stability", he said.
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